Hot Dog Roast Eggstravaganza

Last year was our first Easter season in our new home in a city where we have multiple layers of family ties.

Each family unit already had its “Easter tradition” and our boys have long phased out of the egg hunts, so we came up with a non-traditional approach to gather the multitudes family together in a casual way:

the 1st annual Hot Dog Roast Eggstravaganza!

We figured a hot dog roast was a pretty low maintenance endeavor AND gave us a great excuse to make smores! #duh

We boiled some eggs and brought all the dyeing supplies outside. I don’t know about you other busy mommas, but anytime I can move the mess outside is a victory for all of us!

Egg dyeing brings generations together in a fun way. The young ones crawl up on the table to reach their favorite colors while the older set tells stories of their own Easter egg hunts when they were children.

The dads get to poke the fire and eat meat. The moms get to observe all of this unfold messily before their eyes, tucking these moments in their hearts.

It’s not exactly “breaking bread” together in the traditional communion sense, but there’s a whole lot of fellowship as eggs are dunked, cracked, and colored in a variety of unique styles.

Granma’s cool whip trick

Hands young and old come together, some getting more stained than others as eggs drop into cups with a colorful splash. Love seeps through the chaos of reaching over one another, saturating the family connections even as the hues deepen on the eggs.

Easter decor by boys

Sooo… you’ve got my permission (not that you need it) to go easy on yourself if you’re feeling any pressure of keeping “tradition” just for the sake of tradition that feels too stressful to maintain. Maybe this is a year to try something new? or to tweak something a bit in a new direction?

As your kids get older, let them participate in different ways to help out and free yourself from some of the “shoulds” that try to creep into our busymom brains. Let them decorate or set the table their way. Embrace the silly that naturally ensues from their eagerness and excitement. Be IN the group pic WITH them. 😊

laughter

Gathering together and showing the love of Christ with one another in a family activity can make some sweet memories. It’s not about a perfectly decorated egg, but the sweet perfection of us all being kids together for a little while.

Enjoy the moments…whether it be smores or a nice brunch; an early sunrise service on Easter morning or a full church service packed with girls in frilly skirts that compel them to twirl.

May the spirit of Christ bless you wherever you are this Easter weekend. And hold tight to those egg-dyed hands beside you. 👭👫